Tigers phenom Kevin McGonigle signs $150 million contract after 17 MLB games

Yet another young player has agreed to a long-term extension just days into his major league career. And Kevin McGonigle might be the best bet of the bunch.

McGonigle punctuated his loud debut with the Detroit Tigers by signing an eight-year, $150 million extension Wednesday, April 15, the club announced. The extension begins next year and runs through 2034.

Assuming McGonigle is not demoted to the minor leagues, the deal buys out his first three years of free agency.

It's a virtually risk-free bet for the Tigers, who will pay McGonigle, 21, an average of $18.75 million in that span. The early returns suggest the infielder will outperform the terms of his new deal: McGonigle debuted with a four-hit game, is batting .311 with a .417 on-base percentage and .908 OPS and ranks fourth among among AL position players with 1.1 WAR through 17 games.

Apr 14, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) celebrates after he dives in safe at home in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

McGonigle could have become a free agent at age 27, still the relative prime for a position player, and should he remain on this arc, likely could have exceeded his average annual value in his final two years of arbitration. As a comparison, Bo Bichette, 28, received a $42 million annual salary from the New York Mets on a three-year guarantee this past winter.

Kevin McGonigle contract is latest MLB extension

Yet McGonigle receives significant financial security and the knowledge he's firmly established as the Tigers' franchise cornerstone. He joins the Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin (nine years, $140 million) as well as two players who have yet to make their major league debuts - Seattle's Colt Emerson (eight years, $95 million) and Milwaukee's Cooper Pratt (eight years, $50.75 million) as rookies signing long-term deals just after or before their careers begin.

The Tigers are well-versed in this market: They signed infielder Colt Keith to a six-year, $31.64 million deal that also includes three club options before Keith's 2024 debut. He's been a useful player in his first three seasons, and at $4.3 million this season, hardly busts their budget.

McGonigle will follow a similar path - yet the Tigers are quite confident they'll get significant bang for their guaranteed bucks.

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.

Oval shaped portrait of a American baseball player Jackie Robinson as a young boy sitting on a chair, circa 1925.

American baseball player Jackie Robinson tends to his daughter Sharon in her baby carriage as wife Rachel looks on in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.

A team portrait of the Brooklyn Dodgers, autographed by players including Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, New York City, the 1950s.

Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson waits to bat during the 1952 World Series.

This undated file photo shows US baseball star Jackie Robinson signing a then-record contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York.

This 1945 handout photo shows baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing the Kansas City Monarchs uniform. Robinson has been chosen to receive posthumously March 2, 2005, the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award Congress can bestow on a US civilian, for his accomplishments on the baseball diamond, as well as "his lifetime of breaking down barriers and his unending fight for justice," officials on Capitol Hill said in an earlier press release. US Senator John Kerry and US Representative Richard Neal, who co-sponsored legislation honoring Robinson, will be joined by the ballplayer's widow, Rachel Robinson, US President George W. Bush, and congressional leaders at the ceremony. Robinson broke baseball's "color line," becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Officials in Congress said, however, that he is also being honored for his contributions to the broader struggle for civil rights.

During a Barnstorming game, Jackie Robinson signed a baseball for Larry Brown at Martin" 's Stadium in Memphis (early to mid-50s of African-American significant leaguers against the Memphis Red Sox). Brown was a catcher and manager for the Red Sox over several decades and is featured in the film.

The first African-Americans to appear in an All-Star game, from left to right, Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, Don Newcombe of the Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers.

This 1947 handout photo shows US baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing his Montreal uniform, stepping into the Brooklyn Dodgers' clubhouse for the first time.

An undated headshot of Jackie Robinson wearing his Boston Dodgers uniform and holding a bat.

Jackie Robinson crouches by the base and prepares to catch a ball in 1951. Throughout the course of his baseball career, Robinson played several positions on the infield as well as serving as outfielder.

Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson got the call from umpire Babe Pinelli for tagging out Cincinnati Reds infielder Eddie Miller, one month after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947.

This is a 1951 photo of Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, and Sharon Robinson, his daughter.

A historic photograph of Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson, taken during spring training in Cuba, 1947 (credited to The Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture), on display at the Baseball Museum inside Keyspan Field, home of the minor league baseball team The Brooklyn Cyclones in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 14, 2007. The last game before the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles was at Ebbets Field 50 years ago, on Sept. 24, 1957.

From left, Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Stnaky, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson, all members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jackie Robinson, second from left, and Rachel Robinson, second from right, sit with their children at a resort pool.

Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey talking to his second sacker Jackie Robinson at a team training camp in Vero Beach, Florida on March 17, 1949.

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) grounds a ball in first place while warming up for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Ebbets Field, NYC, in the 1950s.

American baseball player Jackie Robinson and his wife Rachel play with son Jackie Jr. (L) and daughter Sharon in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.

Portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team members poses in the dugout, 1954. From left, Americans Carl Furillo (1922 - 1989) (#6) and Gil Hodges (1924 - 1972) (#14), Cuban Sandy Amoros (1930 - 1992) (#15), and Americans Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) (#42), Duke Snider (#4), Pee Wee Reese (1918 - 1990) (#1), Jim Gilliam (1928 - 1978) (#19), Pete Wojey (1919 - 1991) (#35), and manager Walter Alston (1911 - 1984) (#24).

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers on August 28, 1949.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) during his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, on August 28, 1949.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Oval shaped portrait of a American baseball player Jackie Robinson as a young boy sitting on a chair, circa 1925.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson tends to his daughter Sharon in her baby carriage as wife Rachel looks on in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

A team portrait of the Brooklyn Dodgers, autographed by players including Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, New York City, the 1950s.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson waits to bat during the 1952 World Series.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

This undated file photo shows US baseball star Jackie Robinson signing a then-record contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in New York.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

This 1945 handout photo shows baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing the Kansas City Monarchs uniform. Robinson has been chosen to receive posthumously March 2, 2005, the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award Congress can bestow on a US civilian, for his accomplishments on the baseball diamond, as well as "his lifetime of breaking down barriers and his unending fight for justice," officials on Capitol Hill said in an earlier press release. US Senator John Kerry and US Representative Richard Neal, who co-sponsored legislation honoring Robinson, will be joined by the ballplayer's widow, Rachel Robinson, US President George W. Bush, and congressional leaders at the ceremony. Robinson broke baseball's "color line," becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Officials in Congress said, however, that he is also being honored for his contributions to the broader struggle for civil rights.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

During a Barnstorming game, Jackie Robinson signed a baseball for Larry Brown at Martin" 's Stadium in Memphis (early to mid-50s of African-American significant leaguers against the Memphis Red Sox). Brown was a catcher and manager for the Red Sox over several decades and is featured in the film.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

The first African-Americans to appear in an All-Star game, from left to right, Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, Don Newcombe of the Dodgers, and Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

This 1947 handout photo shows US baseball legend Jackie Robinson wearing his Montreal uniform, stepping into the Brooklyn Dodgers' clubhouse for the first time.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

An undated headshot of Jackie Robinson wearing his Boston Dodgers uniform and holding a bat.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Jackie Robinson crouches by the base and prepares to catch a ball in 1951. Throughout the course of his baseball career, Robinson played several positions on the infield as well as serving as outfielder.

13 / 22

Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson got the call from umpire Babe Pinelli for tagging out Cincinnati Reds infielder Eddie Miller, one month after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

This is a 1951 photo of Jackie Robinson, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, and Sharon Robinson, his daughter.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

A historic photograph of Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson, taken during spring training in Cuba, 1947 (credited to The Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture), on display at the Baseball Museum inside Keyspan Field, home of the minor league baseball team The Brooklyn Cyclones in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 14, 2007. The last game before the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles was at Ebbets Field 50 years ago, on Sept. 24, 1957.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

From left, Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Stnaky, Pee Wee Reese, and Jackie Robinson, all members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Jackie Robinson, second from left, and Rachel Robinson, second from right, sit with their children at a resort pool.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey talking to his second sacker Jackie Robinson at a team training camp in Vero Beach, Florida on March 17, 1949.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) grounds a ball in first place while warming up for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Ebbets Field, NYC, in the 1950s.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson and his wife Rachel play with son Jackie Jr. (L) and daughter Sharon in the backyard of their home in Stamford, Connecticut, circa 1951.

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

Portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team members poses in the dugout, 1954. From left, Americans Carl Furillo (1922 - 1989) (#6) and Gil Hodges (1924 - 1972) (#14), Cuban Sandy Amoros (1930 - 1992) (#15), and Americans Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) (#42), Duke Snider (#4), Pee Wee Reese (1918 - 1990) (#1), Jim Gilliam (1928 - 1978) (#19), Pete Wojey (1919 - 1991) (#35), and manager Walter Alston (1911 - 1984) (#24).

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Jackie Robinson: A look at the life and career of MLB trailblazer

American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers on August 28, 1949.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin McGonigle contract: Tigers ink phenom to $150 million deal